'Waru'

A Movie Review

Waru — eight confronting stories intricately woven together, exposing the ugly stigma of child abuse.Waru — a precious young life cruelly stolen by the very hands blessed with the responsibility to love and care for him. Waru — a movie so raw and authenticate, it will haunt you with its fragile beauty.

Breaking the silence of society's deepest shame, Waru is a bold and courageous compendium of eight short films, overlapping into one precise moment in time. Eight talented mana wahine each direct the same ten minutes in one continuous shot (notably marking the first time in 30 years any drama feature has been directed by a Maori woman). Each director was given just one day and a single shot to convey their story. The result is simply outstanding.

First premiering at the International Film Festival in August 2017, it is easy to see why Waru has the critics singing its praises.

Giving the viewer an uncensored insight into the lives surrounding a young Maori boy, each story strips back another layer of guilt, pain, and courage. Watching the same ten minutes unfold in eight different segments, each episode is told in real time. This creates a building sense of urgency, beckoning the audience to get up close and personal with the movie's characters.

If it takes a village to raise a child, then Waru clearly portrays how a whole community suffers when one is so tragically lost. While each story conveys a very different style and tone, the one constant is the stunning performances delivered. They feel too real. Packed with raw emotion, and a gorgeous vulnerability, Waru demands you to challenge your preconceived judgments and pay attention.

The movie opens with a sweet young voice declaring, "When I died, I saw the whole word." As he whispers in his childlike tone"The people were angry like a lightening bolt," each word cuts like a knife. Waru's story is disturbing, cruel and shameful, yet at the same time powerful, valiant, and desperately needing to be told.

Waru dares to go where most choose not to look. With a spectacular simplicity, and brave sense of realism, it skillfully tackles the circumstances surrounding the tangi of a young Maori boy. Yet, surprisingly injected amongst the broken fragments of regret, guilt, and turmoil, is a sprinkle of humor.

Young Acacia Hapi delivers a stand out performance as Mere. Marking her debut to the big screen, she displays an authenticity far beyond her young years. Weaving in strands of tradition and culture, we are presented with the concept of "wairua" (the spirit of the soul). As Mere courageously confronts the whanau's perpetrator, her grandmother is channeled through her toko toko. Clutching the bestowed walking stick, she launches into a fierce monologue in her native tounge. In contrast, the equally unimpressive reply of “What did she f---ing say?” packs just as much of a punch.

The timeless art of "karanga" (ritual chant) is beautifully portrayed in a mesmerizing scene between two grieving great grandmothers (played byKararaina Rangihau & Merehake Maaka). The haunting cries of their pain is electrifying. Providing a unique opportunity to witness the sacred tradition of offering "a bone for a bone," it tugs on your emotions and leave you with chills.

Waru challenges our perceptions on social and racial stereotypes. It will force your eyes open, seeping into your heart and demanding we start talking. Waru succeeds in showing the viewer child abuse is not restricted to just one race, but a shame owned by us all. This is a movie that can't be ignored. It is your responsibility to watch it.